Racking mechanism for knitting machines



Nov. 26, 1946. R. H. LAWSON 2,411,795

RACKING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES F-ilecl Nov. 10, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet l W/r/MS 7X F762. Q fP ierz /qLawson Nov. 26, 1946. j o2,411,795

RACKING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MA CHII\ IES Filed Nov. 10, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I aim Patented Nov. 26, 1946 BACKING MECHANISM FORKNITTING MACHINES Robert H. Lawson, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott &Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication November 10, 1944, Serial No. 562,809

19 Claims.

This invention relates to racking means for a trick Wheel or othercyclically operating mechanism of a knitting machine.

Knitting machines are commonly provided with trick Wheels which carry inaxially extending slots jacks containing butts arranged in predeterminedfashions to control the production of patterns. Such trick wheels arerequired to pass through successive cycles to form repetitions of thecontrolled pattern and, are subject to special controlling actions. Forexample, in the usual operation the trick wheel is advanced one step ineach course of knitting to present a different array of butts to thecontrolled elements. This action generally occurs constantly during theknitting of the leg of a stocking. When the knitting of a heel beginsthe instep needles in the machine are thrown out of action, to be laterrestored to action during the knitting of the foot. Ordinarily thepattern running along the leg should be continued without interruptionthrough the instep of the stocking. Consequently, the trick wheel shouldnot advance during the knitting of the heel. During the formation of thefoot the advance of the trick wheel should be the same as during theknitting of the leg.

Again, when the toe is reached, it is generally desirable to stop theadvance of the trick wheel while the machine effects reciprocatoryknitting. At the end of such reciprocatory knitting no furthercontrolling actions by the trick wheel are generally desired unti1 thebeginning of the knitting of the leg of the next stocking. Ordinarily,when the trick wheel advance is stopped at the beginning of the knittingof the toe it will not be in the desired position for the resumption ofcontrol during the knitting of the leg of the next stocking.Consequently, it is necessary that the trick wheel be timed up and thencome to rest in a definite position to secure a proper patterncontrolling action in the next stocking. This is generally accomplishedby causing the trick wheel to be advanced during the knitting cf theloopers rounds or waste courses of the Stocking,

It will be evident that for the formation of the most elaborate patternswhich are required, the trick w heel should contain a maximum number ofjacks. Since this number is fixed by the slots in the trick Wheel, itwill be evident that a serious limitation on the extent of the patternwould be imposed if the number of courses involved in a repeat of thepattern had to be equal to the number of slots in the trick wheel orsome submultiple thereof. To secure patterns having repeats of differentnumbers of courses, it is de- 2 sir-able to have provision made forsingle or double advances of the trick wheel, desirably under thecontrol of the trick wheel itself, so that it will complete a cycleduring the desired number of courses.

The above motions and controls of a trick Wheel are known in the art.

Ordinarily, trick wheels of the type indicated are advanced byconventional ratchet and pawl mechanisms. The disadvantage of the use ofsuch mechanisms is that coupled with the rapidity of movement which isrequired is a tendency toward overrunning which if it occurs willobviously destroy the intended pattern in the stocking. To preventoverrunning friction is generally applied to the pattern drum or trickwheel which is being racked and this in turn imposes a resistance tomovement of the racking mechanism Which, if racking is effected by meansconnected to the cylinder of the machine, will set up objectionablevibration. This may be eliminated if, by prevention of overrun, thenecessity of putting friction on the drum is eliminated.

Furthermore, any tendency towards overrun requires a correspondinggreater distance between steps of the drum. If overrun can be prevented,the angular range of each step may be reduced, with consequent narrowingof the lap of the pattern where change occurs and the possibility ofproviding for more drum moves with a drum of given diameter.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a rackingmechanism for a knitting machine which is positive in its action inprevention of overrunning movements and thus makes possible attaining ofthe advantages just noted. A

further'object of the invention is the provision of a racking mechanismof this type which is capable of controlled action to secure thenecessary stopping of a rotary member, the timing thereof, and single ordouble advances thereof, as indicated above.

These and other objects of the invention relating particularly todetails will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure lis a fragmentary plan View, partly diagrammatic illustrating theapplication of the invention to drive of a trick wheel of a knittingmachine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary illustration showing the means for eifectingcontrol from the main cam drum of the machine;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in section, simi- 3 lar to Figure 1 butshowing certain parts above those illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an elevation lookin at the right hand side of Figure 1 andthe lower side of Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure l, the location of the rotary needle cylinderof a knitting machine is indicated at 2. Rotating with this, forexample, by reason of its being secured to the cylinder gear, is a earn4 which during rotary knitting moves in the direction indicated by thearrows 6. A bell crank 8 having a fixed pivot at ID is arranged to beacted upon by the earn 4 to cause its end It? to engage and move theadjustable screw i carried by the lever it having a fixed pivot at H3. Aspring 69 urges the lever IS in a clockwise direction to maintain itsscrew H1 in contact with bell crank 8 up to a limiting position definedby contact of a stop screw 22 with a fixed pin indicated at 26.

Pivoted at i l'to the lever 955 is a gear segment 26 provided with teethat 28. An adjustable eccentric stop pin 39 is arranged behind thesegment 23 as indicated to limit clockwise movement of the segment withrespect to the fixed parts of the machine. An adjustable screw 32carried by the segment is arranged to engage a lug (it on the arm it tolimit clockwise movement of the segment relative to the arm about thepivot 2 A gear 36 mounted to rotate about a center 31 carries the trickwheel 38, which may be of the conventional type commonly provided inknitting machines and consisting of a slotted cylinder in which jacks 39may be located havin butts 4! arranged at various levels and in variousarrangements at said levels.

The bell crank 8 carries a lug 4E3 upstanding therefrom which has arange of movement, upon oscillation of the bell crank 8, between theposition shown in full lines at 49 and the position shown in dottedlines at 38. A lever (l3 pivoted upon a fixed post 58 is provided withan opening M which has a series of steps 62, 4M and 46 which in variousphases of the operation are adapted to be engaged 'by the lug 59. Aspring 58 urges the lever 43 in a counterclockwise direction against thepull which is produced through a Bowden wire and a spring 51! which isof sufiicient strength to overcome the spring so. indicated in Figure 2,the opposite end of the Bowden wire is secured to an arm $32 extendingfrom a push rod 6 3 which is adapted to be raised by the action of camson a lever 63. The cams which act upon the lever 66 are carried by themain cam drum of the machine and may comprise, for the knitting of aconventional stocking, a cam '98 which acts upon the follower lever 65during the knitting of a leg, a cam 72 which acts upon the lever duringthe knitting of a heel, cam M which is active during the knitting of thefoot, earn it active during toe knitting and the space Z8 which may beprovided by the face of the drum and which is effective during knittingof the loopers rounds to effect timing. 7

Referring to Figure 3, there is indicated therein a second lever Bilwhich is also pivoted upon the post 43 above the lever Q3. This lever isprovided with a step 32 which, as will be evident from the figures, isadapted to move in the same path as the step #22 in cooperating with thelu til. A spring 8% urges the lever 8!! in a counterclockwise directionto bring an adjustable stop screw 36 carried by the lever intoengagement with the downturned end 88 of a slide 98 mounted forhorizontal movement in suitable guides in the machine frame.

The slide 98 is provided with a follower portion Q2, which is arrangedto be engaged by butts which are located in a particular level, forexample, the lowermost level 94, of butts in the trick wheel.

During the knitting of a leg of a stocking, the cam '56 on the main camdrum efiects the location of the lever 43 in the position illustrated inFigure 1.

The space between the steps 42 and Q6 is located in the path of the lug41 so that this lug has a full range of movement without interference bythe lever 43 when the bell crank 8 is swung and released by the cam 4during each rotation of the needle cylinder corresponding to theformation of each course of the leg. Disregarding for the moment theaction of the lever 86, the effect of the foregoing is to advance thetrick wheel 38 through a double step upon each revolution of the needlecylinder, such double steps corresponding to the angular spacing of twoteeth of the gear 56 and to the angular spacing of two jacks in thetrick wheel. Starting from the position illustrated in Figure 1 this iseiiected in the following-manner: The pivot 24 is arranged to involve asubstantial degree of friction. When the lever l6 occupies its extremeclockwise position as illustrated due to the extreme counterclockwiseposition of bell crank 8, the segment 25 will have been positioned byengagement with the stop 3%. As the bell crank 8 rides upwardly on thecam Q, the lever i6 is rocked counterclockwise and during such rockingmovement, due to the friction action mentioned, the angular relationshipbetween the segment 26 and lever I6 is maintained with the result that apredetermined meshing of the segment 28 and the gear 35 takes place.Following a completion of meshing, the continued counterclockwisemovement of the levers it: will cause a widening of the angle betweenthe segment 26 and the lever 56 resulting in there being imparted to thegear 36 a movement equivalent to the angular spacing of two teeth of thegear. The limit of this movement occurs when the screw 32 engages thelug 34 which should coincide substantially with the bell crank Sreaching the top of the cam 4. Actually, the arresting action may occurjust slightly prior to this, the resilience of the parts permitting thecam to pass the bell crank 8.

As the bell crank is released by the cam, the lever i5 moves clockwiseunder the action of the spring ill, to a position limited by engagementof the screw 22 with the stop pin 26. At the beginning of this movementthe segment 26 moves, due to the friction at the pivot 25, as anintegral part of the lever I6, out of mesh with gear until it engagesthe stop 30 whereupon it is arrested, and further movement of the leverit to its final position results in decrease of the angle between thesegment and the lever. The parts are thus returned to the originalposition first described preparatory to the next action by the cam lwhich results in meshing of the segment with the gear. In movingoutwardly the segment so moves that its teeth leave those of gearwithout tendency to impart either backward of forward movement to thegear.

This result is attained by such relative arrangement of the parts thatmovement occurs substantially along a line joining the center of gear 36with the center of curvature of the segment.

The above action occurs so long as a butt 94 pin 28. Under theseconditions the angle b-e-- tween the segment'ZG and the lever is will begreater than before so that when the lever it next -movescounterclockwise, due I to the action of cam 4, meshing will not occurtwo teeth behind the previous point of meshing but only one tooth behindthat point. As a consequence, there will be imparted to the gear 36 anangular movement through the spacing of only a single tooth,

or in other Words, the trick wheel Will have imparted thereto a singlestep.

The result of the above is that, by reason of a predeterminedarrangement of butts M, a particular-succession of single and doublesteps may be imparted to the trick wheel to result in its completerotation during the occurrence of various numbers of courses ofknittingwiththe result that within wide limits the cycle of repetitionof the pattern may be'varied. It will be noted'that in either case it isimpossible for the gear 36 to overrun the movement imparted to it by thesegment 26, since at the end of the advancing movement, the segment andthe gear are in mesh and the gear is definitely brought to rest beforerelease of the gear by the segment can occur. The gear 36 cannotpossibly force the segment 23 out of mesh since the segment iseffectively rigid with the lever It at the end of the racking movementby reason of engagement of screw 32 with the lug In order to arrest themotion of the trickwheel I during the knitting of the heel, the cam 12probell crank 8 rides up the cam 4 so that the lug 40 clears the stepso, the step will then besnapped behind the lug so that counterclockwisemovement of the bell crank 8 is prevented even though it is released bythe cam 4. Asa result, during the formation of the heel, the segment 26isheld in mesh with the gear 35 retaining the trick wheel in fixedposition despite continued movement of the needle cylinder, whichduring, formation of the heel, will be reciprocatory.

When circular knitting is resumed through the 'i root, the follower 66drops off cam l2 upon the cam M resulting in return of the lever 43 tothe identical position which'it occupied during the knitting ofthe leg.Normal advances of the trick wheel through single or double steps maythen take place to continue the pattern through the foot. v r

When the, knitting of the toe' is reached, the cam I6 acts identicallyas would the cam 12 during the heel formation. Accordingly, the advanceof the trick wheel is again "arrested, the trick wheel being locked inposition by the segment.

' Following the knitting of the toe and beginning of the knitting-of theloopers rounds, the lever lifidrops upon the drum face at 18. This drop'would be sufi'icient to permit the step. to be brought into the path ofthe lug 40. However, movement'of the lever 43 does not occur to thisextent inasmuch as the pin 52 carried by it will drop to the position52' into engagement with the circular edge of the cam disc 54. When thisoccursthe step 42 is brought into the path of the lug40.

As previously pointed out, the step 42 bears the same relationship .tothe lug do as the step 82 of the lever .80, preventing the bell crank tfrom moving to its normal counterclockwise position and thus limitingthe extent to which the lever [B maymove clockwise. As a consequence,irrespective of the butt arrangement at 9 on the trick wheel, andirrespective of the position of the lever 80 which may be moved by theaction .of

strained from free angular movement relative such butts, the movementsof the parts are such that only single steps of the trick wheel mayoccur. Such single steps are for the purpose of advancing the trickwheel toward its initial position for the beginning of the pattern inthe leg of the next stocking. It may be noted that cam 16 may beomitted, in which case this retiming phase of the operation may beginsimultaneously with the beginning of knitting of the toe.

The. single step advances continue until the notch 56 reaches theposition 52' of the pin 52. As soon as the pin 52 is free to drop intothe notch, the spring 59 moves the lever 43 further in acounterclockwise direction tobring the step 44 into the path of the lug49 as soon as the bell crank 8 is moved clockwise after the pin dropsinto the notch. The step 44 then occupies the same position as the step43 occupied during heel and toe knitting, with the result that theracking is completely interrupted, the trick wheel being locked inposition by the segmentfi, in preparation for properly timed control inthe knitting of the next stocking.

This locked condition continues until the follower rises on the cam 10,whereupon the lever 43 is again moved clockwise to clear both steps 44and 42 from the path of the lug [iii so that the racking operations maybe resumed.

It may be noted that, if desired, by a proper shaping 0f cam l the lever8 may be rocked to effect advance of the trick wheel during both forwardand reverse strokes of the needle cylinder during reciprocation. In thisfashion patterning may be accomplished, for example, during the knittingof split work.

What I claim and desire Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine,rotary means including a toothed member, afirst lever, means for imto protect by Letters parting oscillatorymotions to said lever, a second lever having at least one toothengageable with teeth of the toothed member, the second lever beingpivoted to the first lever but being rethereto, a stop engageable by thesecond lever to 1 limit movement thereof away from the toothed member,and stop means for limiting angular movementof thesecond lever relativeto the'first in one direction, so that during an oscillation of thefirstlever in one direction the second lever first moves therewith to causeits tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to; a position limited by said stop means to impartan advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the first lever in the reverse direction the second leverfirst moves therewith to disengage the toothfrom'the toothed member I 7and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish adefinite angular relationship between the levers at the end of themovement of the first lever.

2. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, afirst lever, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said lever, asecond lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the second lever being pivoted to the first lever butbeing frictionally restrained from free angular movement relativethereto, a stop engageable by the second lever to limit movement thereofaway from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angularmovement of the second lever relative to the first in one direction, sothat during an oscillation of the first lever in one direction thesecond lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with saidtoothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a positionlimited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to saidtoothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the first lever inthe reverse direction the second lever first moves therewith todisengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stopto be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationshipbetween the levers at the end of the movement of the first lever.

3. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the leverrelative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillationof the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to causeits tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement.

4. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relativeto the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of theelement in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause itstooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement, and means for varying the extent of oscillation of the elementto control the advance of the toothed member.

5. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relativeto the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of theelement in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause itstooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element tocontrol the advance of the toothed member, and means rotating with thetoothed member for controlling the last named means.

6. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relativeto the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of theelement in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause itstooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement, and means including an element rotating with the toothed memberfor interrupting oscillatory motions of the first mentioned element.

'7. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element butbeingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto and a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, so that during an oscillation of the element in one directionthe lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with saidtoothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse directionthe lever angularrelationship betweenthe lever and ,ele-.

ment at the end of. movement of the element.

8. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element,

means for impartingbscillatorymotions to said element, a lever having atleast one tooth engage, able with teeth of the toothed member, thelever.

being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angularmovement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limitmovement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during anoscillation of the element in one direction the lever first movestherewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and thenmoves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement tosaid toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element inthe reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage thetooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retardedthereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the leverand element at the end of movement of the element, and means for varyingthe extent of oscillation ofrthe element to contro the advance of thetoothed member.

9. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, so that during an oscillation of the element in one directionthe lever first moves therewith to caus its tooth to mesh with saidtoothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengagethe tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby 10 interrupting oscillatorymotions of the first mentioned element.

11 In a knitting machine, rotary means includinga toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained .fromlfree angular movement relative thereto, a

stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from thetoothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in onedirection the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to meshwith said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto toimpart an advancing movement to said toothed to establish a definiteangular relationship be- I tween the lever and element at the end ofmovement of the element, means for varying the extent of oscillation ofthe element to control the advance of the toothed member, and meansrotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means.

10. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element,

means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever havingat least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, thelever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from freeangular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever tolimit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during anoscillation of the element in one direction the lever first movestherewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and thenmoves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement tosaid toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element inthe reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage thetooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retardedthereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the leverand elementat the end of movement of the element, and means including anelement rotating with the toothed member for member, and so that duringan oscillation of the element in the reverse direction th lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element tocontrol the advance of the toothed member,

means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last namedmeans, and means for overruling the last mentioned controlling action toeffect uniform advancing movements of the toothed member.

12. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillator motions to saidelement, a lever having at least. one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, so thatduring an oscillation of the element in one direction thelever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothedmember and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member. and thenengages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angularrelationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of theelement, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element toeffect single or double advances of the toothed member upon eachcomplete oscillation of the element, and means for overruling the lastmentioned means to insure only single advances of the toothed member.

13. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element havin at least one tooth. engageable with saidtoothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto and toprevent overrun thereof, means for varying the extent of oscillation ofthe element to control the extent of ad- Vance of the toothed member,and means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the lastnamed means. l

14. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element having at least on tooth engageable with saidtoothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto, meansfor imparting oscillatory movements to said element, and means forinterrupting such oscillatory movements, said element, during periods ofinterruption of its movements, being located to lock said toothed memberagainst movement in both directions by engagement of said tooth betweenteeth of said toothed member.

15. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element having at least one tooth engageable with saidtoothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto, meansfor imparting oscillatory movements to said element, means for varyingthe extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of thetoothed member, and means for interrupting such oscillatory movements,said element, during periods of interruption of its movements, beinglocated to lock said toothed member against movement.

16. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element having at least one tooth engageable with saidtoothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto and toprevent overrun thereof, means for varying the extent of oscillation ofthe element to control the extent of advance of the toothed member,means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last namedmeans, and means for overruling the last mentioned controlling action toeffect uniform advancing movements of the toothed member.

17. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, afirst lever, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said lever, asecond lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the second lever being pivoted to the first lever butbeing restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the second lever to limit movement thereof away from thetoothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movement of thesecond lever relative to the first in one direction, so that during anoscillation of the first lever in one direction the second lever firstmoves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member andthen moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by saidstop means to impart an advancing move ment to said toothed member, andso that during an oscillation of the first lever in the reversedirection the second lever first moves therewith to disengage the toothfrom the toothed member without imparting a rotating force to saidtoothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby toestablish a definite angular relationship between the levers at the endof the movement of the first lever.

18. In'a knitting machinarotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stopengageable by the lever to-limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the leverrelative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillationof the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to causeits tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularlyrelatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member withoutimparting a rotating force to said toothed member and then engages saidstop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationshipbetween the lever and element at the end of movement of the element.

19. In a knitting machine'rotary means including a toothed member, anoscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to saidelement, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of thetoothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement rela tive thereto, and a stopengageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothedmember, so that during an oscillation of the element in one directionthe lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh With saidtoothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart anadvancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during anoscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever firstmoves therewith to disengage thetooth from the toothed member withoutimparting a rotating force to said toothed member and then engages saidstop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationshipbetween the lever and element at the end of movement of the element.

ROBERT H. LAWSON.

